Bridgeton pioneer., 1887-10-27
NO. 2O55
THE ITALIAN STRIKE.
The Railroad Strikers are Paid
off and Discharged.

When the so p. III. train pulled out
from this city on Monday there were on
board a number Of Italians who have
been at work on the railroad extension,
andwho, after striking, were discharged
and paid off.
Mr.. Nelson, one of the contractors,
with the time keeper, came to this city
on the noon train yesterday for the
purpose of settling all the differences
between the men and wedding out all
the dissatisfied ones, and put new men
in their places. Mr.. Nelson brought
with him little alligator satche1 in
which neatly wrapped up in bundles,
was over $4,000 in notes aud consider
able silver money. 1t was the purpose
of the contractors to pay off the
swarthy Italians at the Mayors Office,
thus be afforded police protection from
any who might perhaps offer violence,
but the Mayor did not care to have
such gang in his Court room, and SO
sent officers Fithian and Parvin to the
house recently purchased by William
Bailey, on South Pearl street, and in
the kitchen of this dwelling fifty-nine
of these men received their pay and
were discharged.
The strike lasted three days, and the
bosses on the road have feared vio-
lence from some OF the hot headed
sons of Italy, and have wanted to get
the kickers from among the others.
Yesterday one OF the Italian bosses
came to the Mayors Office and asked
for police protection, claiming that
some of the workmen were threaten
ing him. This was accorded him, and
he was at the house when the men
were paid off.
Mr.. Nelson was disposed to deal
fairly with the men and through an
interpreter told them that if any of
them wanted to go to work this morn
ing they could do so, but must not ask
for their money until the end of the
month. At this proposal the men
showed dissatisfaction, and in their
imperfect English calledloudly for their
money. A line was formed and the
zen prese.ted their checks at the
window and the paying off commenced.
Each of them had from $11 to $50
coming to them. The average ran
about SIS and as fast as their checks
were handed in just so soon was the
money passed out.
But the unlearned fellows were not
yet disposed to be contented and salts
fed. One man received his money and
after counting it over, he threw it
down upon an improvised table and
hissed, mo good, me no take,n and
had it not b?en for the presence of the
blue coated officials, it is not unlikely
that there would have been a vast
amount OF trouble, and it is not i'm
probable that bloodshed might have
resulted
1t was good two hours work to
pay off all the strikers, and the men
who had received their wages were
given notice to leave the shanty and
the town on the first train. With
mutterings not pleasant to hear, the
men left. One or two of them paid
the money they had received back to
the bosses, and were given back their
checks.
\ pack peddler OF the Jewish per
suasion, was up to his cars in bust.
ness. He had opened his pack with o
''cheab and nice display Of cloding,'
and a great deal of the money which
had been given the strikers was soon
in the dark reoesses Of his capacious
pocket,
a number Of the strikers went up on
the afternoon train yesterday. They
took with them all their tools, cooking
utensils, etc, and have left the town
for good. This morning q number of
Germans who arrived last night, and
some Bridgeton men, took up the
shovel and pick and resumed work,
and the extension will be rapidly
pushed once more.